NCCD categories of disability High level summary 2019

NCCD categories of disability High level summary | 2019 Supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. © 2019 Education Services Australia Ltd, unless otherwise indicated. Creative Commons BY 4. 0, unless otherwise indicated.

The model for the NCCD is based on the existing obligations of all Australian schools under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards) and draws on the definition of disability in the DDA.

What is disability? The DDA defines disability broadly as: • total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; or • total or partial loss of a part of the body; or • the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or • the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or • the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body; or • a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or • a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or that results in disturbed behaviour. NCCD categories of disability 2

Which students should be included in the NCCD? Include students when … § The student’s impairment meets the DDA broad definition of disability and the functional impact of the student’s disability results in the school actively addressing or supporting the student’s specific individual education needs arising from their disability. § Decisions about adjustments have been made in consultation with the student and/or their parents, guardians or carers. § The school has evidence to show that the student has been provided with an educational adjustment over a minimum period of 10 weeks of school education (excluding school holiday periods) in the 12 months preceding the annual NCCD reference date. Evidence can be accumulated throughout the year and doesn’t have to be from a consecutive 10 week period. NCCD categories of disability 3

NCCD categories of disability Definitions from the DDA and the Standards NCCD categories Total or partial loss of a part of the body The malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body The presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness Physical The presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness Total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions A disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction Total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions The malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body A disorder, illness or disease that affects the person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement, or that results in disturbed behaviour NCCD categories of disability Cognitive Sensory Social/emotional 4

Use evidence to support decision-making When determining a student’s broad category of disability, use evidence to support decision-making. Evidence may reflect a wide range of practices in meeting the educational needs of students, consistent with obligations under the DDA, the Standards and best teaching practice. Although medical and specialist reports may be used as evidence, selection of a disability category relies upon the professional judgement of teachers formed by knowledge of the student’s learning needs and how this affects their access to education. However, it is important to seek specialist advice so as not to form an opinion that lowers expectation of achievement by choosing a category that is masked by the effects of another. Discuss the types of evidence available at the school to support judgements about the inclusion of students in the NCCD categories of disability 5

Activity Consider and discuss a student at your school. Determine the student’s broad category of disability, referring to all available evidence. NCCD categories of disability 6